The Clinic in Phoenixville faces challenge of rent, need for space

PHOENIXVILLE — When any organization reaches a landmark anniversary, it is obviously a time for reflection on the work done in the past.

With The Clinic reaching its 10th anniversary in October, there has been a lot of thought over how far it has come.

At a time when debates about health care are at the forefront of the national consciousness, The Clinic in Phoenixville stands as an example of what can be done for affordable health care for those without health insurance through dedication and community support.

In spite of the reflection on The Clinic’s work its founders the Rev. Marie Swayze and Dr. Lorna Stuart have been doing, they are also burdened with some serious concerns about the future of the non-profit.

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Specifically, the bulk of those worries revolve around the building The Clinic operates out of.

Formerly an abandoned rectory, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church owns the building and therefore has received rent on it since The Clinic opened its doors.

As such, St. Peter’s has taken in a single dollar for rent per year for the use of the building.

But that will change New Year’s Day 2013.

“They are raising our rent from $1 a year to $18,000 a year,” Swayze said.

Such a jump in cost is worrisome to The Clinic, which already requires $1.1 million to operate each year.

Since the majority of their funds come from donors, Swayze and Stuart are concerned the fact that some donations might now cover rent would be a turn off to people.

As it stands now, they said, they can tell each donor exactly what their money would go toward and actually have specific funds set up to fund certain things.

“People who give to us do not want to give to us to pay rent,” Swayze said. “They want to take care of a patient. That’s the deal.”

The administrative and salary costs at the Clinic make up just 18 percent of their budget. The paid staff make a significant amount less than they might make elsewhere because of their loyalty to The Clinic’s mission, Swayze said.

“Dr. Stuart could earn twice as much as she earns if she worked in a private practice,” Swayze said.

Thomas Burd, the executive director of The Clinic, could also make twice as much if he worked for a private company, she said.

But money is still, and always will be, an issue for a non-profit like The Clinic. And adding a rent when there previously was not one will only aggravate those issues.

As it stands now, every patient that comes in is asked to pay only what they can. There are no set rates or rules on payment and there have been several instances when payment was given in the form of a trade or a service.

With a yearly rent, that could change some things.

“Essentially, we have to ask each patient that comes in the door to give us a $2 donation to pay for the rent,” Swayze said.

Still, Swayze said she has “faith our patients will help out once they know the rent has changed.”

The Clinic also is outgrowing its current location.

“One of our hopes, one of our fondest hopes, would be a larger building with more space to see more patients,” Stuart said.

The current building at 143 Church St. is bursting at the seams from its occupants. Swayze and Stuart both said “every inch” of the building is being utilized.

Closets, shelves, hooks, and cabinets, anything that could possibly be used for storage, are full.

“We need more space,” Swayze said.

Additionally, the unique design of The Clinic’s building makes it less than preferable as a working medical office.

“Thing about a Victorian building is we use all four floors and, sometimes, communication is difficult,” Swayze said. “It would be marvelous to find a spot that is efficient.”

Ideally, they want a building that would give them 15 rooms for patients and a larger reception and waiting room area.

Swayze and Stuart want to keep The Clinic in Phoenixville, as well. However, as Phoenixville continues to rise and improve, the price of real estate greatly impedes The Clinc’s ability to find a building they could afford.

“We need $1 million to buy a new building,” Swayze said. “We looked, but we don’t know how we can raise a million dollars. We raised all the money now (just) so we can stay put.”

At the moment, plans are still being formed as to how they could get a new building, one they could own.

As the Clinic steps forward to a somewhat uncertain future, there are many things to be positive about.

The current down economy hasn’t tremendously affected the ability of The Clinic to raise funds.

“We’ve just got to work extra hard,” Burd said. “We’ve addressed this issue with the foundations and they have been hurt in the financial market. But I think we’re doing as well as any organization. We’re in fairly good financial status.”

Even when donors have to limit their charitable contributions, The Clinic seems to stay on their list.

“I think when people cut down on their giving, The Clinic stays in their giving because people know somebody without insurance,” Burd said.

The importance of The Clinic is not lost on many.

“It’s been a great thing for Phoenixville, especially with the downturn in the economy,” Mayor Leo Scoda said.

Borough council member Jen Mayo said she had an aunt who benefitted from care through The Clinic.

“It definitely has helped a lot of community members,” Mayo said.

As the celebration of their decade of work approaches, both Swayze and Stuart feel they, their staff, their donors and their patients have accomplished something.

“We have doctors waiting in line to work here because this is the kind of medicine they like to do,” Stuart said. “There are people walking in today that have been walking in since the first week. Still no insurance and they have conditions.”

“This is the dream, that we would come together and care for each other,” Swayze said. “This is a country that does that and this is who we are.”

A 10th anniversary dinner is scheduled for Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. at Columbia Station in Phoenixville. Call 610-935-5464 for tickets.

About the Author

Frank Otto is a general assignment reporter covering Phoenixville, Limerick and Spring-Ford schools in addition to features and spot news. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Otto moonlights with the sports department on occasion. Reach the author at fotto@pottsmerc.com
or follow Frank on Twitter: @fottojourno.